Sandra Bullock

Born in Virginia to a German opera singer mother and a voice teacher father, Sandra Bullock‘s low-key, girl next door charm and innocently sexy looks have carried her from sidekick roles in the Speed franchise, to romantic lead roles in films like Miss Congeniality.

Born into a family of opera singers, Bullock first tried a career as a vocalist and ballet dancer in Germany for 12 years before moving to New York to break into theater. Bullock eventually switched gears to Los Angeles, landing a role on the TV series Working Girl and, later on, a comedic part in the Sylvester Stallone action flick Demolition Man. In 1994, Bullock assumed a costarring role alongside Keanu Reeves in Speed. 2000’s Miss Congeniality cemented Bullock’s romantic comedy leading-lady status, while she earned an Oscar for her work in Crash.

Bullock settled down to marry motorbike mogul and Monster Garage star Jesse James in 2005. In the wake of rumors of James’ infidelity, Bullock filed for divorce in spring 2010. Bullock debuted her adopted son, Louis Bardo, in May 2010.